Justin

We are still working hard to fundraise for Jacob, but while on Reeces Rainbow today, I noticed this sweet little baby named Justin.

 He is only 1 and a half, and his only special need is a cleft pallate.  Talk about minor!  Can you imagine being born in another country with a cleft palate, so you are left alone in an orphanage?  That's just crazy!  He seems like a sweet, healthy boy!

If you know anyone who might be looking for a sweet baby boy to add to their family, will you mention little Justin.  My old neighbor boy was born with a cleft palate and it was easily correctable with minor surgery.

Cute boy.  Spread the word.

(www.reecesrainbow.org "other angels," orphanage 35)

Bottom of the Arch

Did you know that below the "Arch" in St. Louis, there is a museum?  Neither did I, until we stood in line to get up into that arch, only to find it was sold out for the day (who would have guessed it would be so popular, well, I suppose, what else are you going to do in St. Louis.  In December)


So, we got out of line, and decided to peruse the museo de historia. 

Some baseball players:

We ran into this guy

Almost got trampled by a BUFFALO!

Learned about the history of banking from this fine gent

All while not going up in the arch!

But I will say it was pretty cool.  I felt like I was on a field trip.

"Carpet Baggers for life!" -Natalie

You know what I get alot of complimets on?

My herbed foccaccia.  Yum, that's right.  Someone's coming over?  Whip this baby together to serve with a lil balsamic and oil, and boy o boy, the guests are a raving.

Then, it doesn't matter if the rice is too dry, the fish too burned or the dessert spilling over onto the oven floor.  This focaccia covers a multitude of sins.

Here is my recipe:

Ingredients

4 cups white flour, plus 2 tbsp for dusting
One pack yeast
1/2 tsp salt
5 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/4 cups lukewarm water
1 tsp olive oil for greasing
5-7 tbsp of mixed herbs you like.  I use Herbs de Provonce, but you can use whatever you like
2-3 tbsp coarse sea salt (don't even think about using regular salt you weirdo!)

1. Combine flour, yeast and salt in mixin' bowl
2. Pout in 3 tbsp of the exta-virgin olive oil and add the lukewarm water and herbs.  Mix well with a wooden spoon or until it's all softee.
3.  Lightly flour your counter or a cutting board, then kneed it for 8-10 minutes, or get your husband to do it.  Mine enjoyed it and said it released some tension.  (hah, whatever it takes :)
4.  Place the dough in a bowl, cover with a clean cloth and let it rise in a ward place until it is double in size.  Crazy!  (about 45mins-1 hr.)

5.  Turn the dough onto lightly floured surface and kneed again, but this time be gentle and don't knock out all the air. (Maybe don't let a husband do this part)
6.  Gently roll out the dough on a cookie sheet greased with olive oil until it's about 3/4 of an inch thick  (well, whatever, I usually just stretch it out until it mostly fills us a regular cookie sheet with a nice rounded rectangle)
7. Cover with a clean cloth and like rise in warm spot for 20-30 mins.  Then, with a little stick thing (I use a wooden chop stick) make holes all over about 2 inches apart.
8.  Drizzle with the rest of the olive oil, (you can kinda rub it around with your hand too) then toss all the big salt over it.  
9.  Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20-25 mins in center rack.  Don't over cook, you want it soft and silky like butta'.  Transfer to cooling rack ORRR....what I prefer is to slice it up right before guests come in LONG pieces, wrap them up in a lovely dish towel, and place in a serving bowl with oil and balsamic on the side.  Then when someone goes to grab one, it comes out all steamy and delicious...OH MAN!


The usualy response it, 'Oh wow, this is so amazing, Amy.  Can we be friends for life?'
To which I kindly remind them, 'Um, we'll see, I get that alot' 



 

oh gosh...

Little Lera Doll


such a little beauty  :(

Heartbrake

I guess sometimes when you dive into serving people, and your hearts are all intertwined with those whom you are serving, one day your heart will inevitably be broken. 

My precious girls have been working so hard to raise money for these orphans.  One attended an Orphan Care ministry meeting with me last Wednesday and spoke boldly of the needs of the kids on Reece's Rainbow, and particularly Jacob.  Many in attendance wrote down the website and said that they indeed had never heard of it before.  Last week, all the girls got up in front of the entire youth group, and shared how we felt God's leading to help these kids.  They were very open and touching when they shared how helping these kids is a window into God's heart and has changed their world view profoundly, while urging other groups to "adopt" a child of their own. 

We should have known.  I mean, we asked God for this very situation.  We asked God to lead us to someone in great need, someone who would otherwise be completely overlooked and cast aside.  That was our exact prayer, "someone in desperate need." That is the night we found Jacob.

Recently, I wanted to know his medical records in case someone was interested in adopting him, I would be better able to share about this little peanut boy with the dark brown eyes and his long, beautiful lashes.

The response I got was this:

"Jacob has already been transferred to the institution."

oh no. Jacob...

Our poor baby.  Our poor boy.  Unfortunately, we know all too well what life is like in these places.  It is not a place for humans, no place for children.  Especially Jacob, he is just so little, and all he needs is a mom and a dad to give him the childhood he deserves, baby him, even though he is four. Don't you just want to hold him when you see him?  Oh how he needs it...

I was very heart broken, and emailed the lady what the chances are the Jacob could even survive a place like that?  She told me that the quality of life for children in mental institutions is very low, but, in Bulgaria where he lives, the care is better than in Serbia and Russia.  The woman emailing me told me that she was in the process of adopting her son from a Bulgarian mental institution and he is seven years old.

So, in this heartbreak there is hope, at least we pray, somehow.  Hope that someone will find Jacob, the little lost lamb, and rescue him.  A little lost treasure, hidden in a dark place.

I will give you the treasures of darkness,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD,
the God of Israel, who summons you by name.       Isaiah 45:3

Each passing day is a day lost for him.  My group is going to work really hard, but I was also wondering if you would be able to make a donation today.  I know we all have things we need to buy and do with it, I understand that really well.  But, I know that this little boy's life literally depends on donations towards his fund.  I honestly believe that if he has $10,000 in his fund, a family could have what they need to go rescue him.  Wouldn't it be amazing if 100 people each donated $100?

  If you would like to be a part of saving his life, please, please, PLEASE donate.

1. visit www.reecesrainbow.org
2.  click donate
3.  In the donation note, be sure to mention Jacob #840

If you don't have the money to spare, will you please pray for him.  Print out his picture, hang it on your fridge and as a family pray for him each day?

Thank you.

p.s.  I truly believe this little boy is so beautiful, he really is a lost treasure looking for his family.

A Family Living Boldly

I saw this video a few months ago and since then have been searching and searching for it!  I love it!  I finally just found it right now so I am putting it here so I can watch it whenever I want.